Tchaikovsky's second and longest ballet failed to take off in the composer's lifetime but is now a worldwide favourite.
Tchaikovsky's second ballet was premiered in 1890 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. It is his longest ballet, lasting nearly three hours without intervals.
Despite being aware that his Swan Lake had met with little enthusiasm, Tchaikovsky enthusiastically accepted the commission to write a ballet based on Charles Perrault's La Belle au bois dormant via a version by the Brothers Grimm.
Tchaikovsky's ballet focussed in on the two main conflicting forces of good - the Lilac Fairy - and evil - Carabosse. Each has their own theme, which runs through the entire work, providing a thread to the plot. Act III however takes a complete break from the two motifs and instead places focus on the individual characters at the various court dances.
At the première, Tsar Alexander III summoned Tchaikovsky to the imperial box and made the simple remark 'Very nice,' which seemed to have irritated the composer, who was probably expecting more effusive appreciation.
The ballet's premiere received more favourable accolades than Swan Lake from the press but Tchaikovsky sadly did not live long enough to witness his work become an instant success in theatres outside of Russia. Many of his best tunes were later turned into songs in the Walt Disney animated feature version, made in 1959.

King Florestan XIV and the Queen are celebrating the birth of Princess Aurora. In the palace preparations are underway for a ban­quet. Master of Ceremonies Catalabutte is checking the list of guests. Guests and members of the court arrive and congratulate the king and queen. The Lilac Fairy and the Good Fairies present their gifts to the infant princess, endowing her with the finest human attributes.

Suddenly a great noise is heard: the wicked and powerful Carabosse Fairy appears. Catalabutte has forgotten to invite her to the banquet. The Master of Ceremonies is out of his mind with anxiety for his mis­take may result in dire misfortune for the Princess in her future life. In a fit of anger Carabosse foretells that Aurora will die young from pricking her finger with a knitting spindle. All are overcome by despair. But the Lilac Fairy forces Carabosse to leave the palace and predicts a reprieve from death for Aurora: "In a hundred years’ time the princess, and the whole kingdom, will be awakened to happiness by a handsome prince".

Act I

It is Princess Aurora’s sixteenth birthday. Four princes have come to court her. The King and Queen urge her to make a choice. But Aurora, who is full of youth and the joys of life, refuses to listen to her parents’ entreaties. At the height of the festivities and old woman comes up to Aurora and, unnoticed, hands her a knitting spindle. Trusting Aurora takes it and continues to dance. Suddenly she stops dancing and gazes in horror at her finger which she has accidentally pricked with the spin­dle. Aurora is overcome by deadly cold and she dies. The old woman throws off her hood - it is Fairy Carabosse! Whirling about maliciously, she disappears in a cloud of smoke. A dreadful misfortune has overtak­en the kingdom.

The Lilac Fairy appears: she has the power to mitigate evil! Aurora has­n’t died, she has fallen asleep for a hundred years. She will be woken up by the passionate kiss of a handsome prince. The Lilac Fairy puts the whole kingdom to sleep for a hundred years.

Act II

Scene 1 A century has passed. Prince Desire is hunting on his domain, but he is not particularly engrossed in the chase. He is haunted by a beautiful dream. Suddenly the Lilac Fairy appears before the Prince. She summons a vision of Aurora surrounded by ethereal nerdish. Enchanted, the Prince hurries after the vision but, on a command from the Lilac Fairy, it disap­pears.

Desire implores the Lilac Fairy to search for the beautiful maiden who has captivated his heart. The Lilac Fairy and the Prince set sail in the magic boat and make for the bewitched royal castle.

Scene 2 Darkness and desolation reign in the sleeping kingdom. It is guarded by the wicked Carabosse Fairy. The Lilac Fairy and Prince Desire approach rapidly. Fairy Carabosse and her retinue try to hide Aurora, but the Prince catches sight of her. Captivated by Aurora, he kisses her tenderly. And the evil spell is broken! Carabosse and her retinue disappear. Aurora wakes up, and with her the whole kingdom. The Princess gazes at her deliverer and love is born in her heart. Desire asks the King and Queen for Aurora’s hand.

Act III

The wedding of Aurora and Desire. The Fairy-tale Characters have come to the celebrations: Princess Florine and Blue Bird, Puss in Boots and White Cat, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, Cinderella and the Prince.

Apotheosis

The Lilac Fairy and her retinue give their blessing for a happy life to the bride and groom.

Peter Tchaikovsky "Sleeping Beauty" (ballet-fierie in three acts with a prologue and apotheosis)Characters